Punjab CM meets slain police officer's family

Kapurthala (Punjab), July 29: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday met the family of police officer Baljit Singh who died fighting terrorists -- and also praised the Punjab Police.

Badal assured all possible help to the family of the officer who died after taking a bullet in the head.

Superintendent of Police Baljit Singh, 48, was the senior most officer to die when terrorists battled security forces in Dinanagar in Gurdaspur district on Monday.

"The country is proud of the martyred policemen who sacrificed their lives to save the lives of others," Badal told reporters, referring to the officer and three Home Guards who too were killed by the terrorists.

He was here to meet the family of Baljit Singh which wants government jobs for his three children on compassionate grounds.

"I will fulfill my responsibility as the chief minister," Badal said on being asked about providing jobs to the next of kin.

He said the family didn't raise any issue with him regarding jobs.

Earlier, the family of Baljit Singh refused to cremate his body, demanding a superintendent of police rank post for his son and the post of naib tehsildars (revenue officials) for his two daughters.

Baljit Singh, who headed the detective branch of police in Gurdaspur, will be cremated with state honours here later on Wednesday.

The government has announced a compensation of Rs.10 lakh each to the families of the officer and the Home Guards and Rs.5 lakh each to the civilians who died.